Tool for tensioning a circular band

ABSTRACT

Tool for tensioning a circular band having a tangential tail and a buckle connecting lapping portions of the band, characterized by a portable tool having band tensioning means and a pivoted crimping head adapted to form a specific type of crimp in the outer band, the crimping head adapted to be moved away from an interferring position at which the tool and band may be relatively rotated in the plane of the band to break off the tail adjacent the buckle.

[ Sept. 24, 1974 llnited States Patent 1191 Beardsley 3,346,023 10/1967140/934 X 3,641,629 2/1972 Beardsley........................... 24/23 WTOOL FOR TENSIONING A CIRCULAR BAND Primary Examiner-Charles W. Lanham[73] Assignee:

[22] Filed:

Assistant Examiner-Joseph A. Walkowski Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Sheridan, Ross & Fields [57] ABSTRACT Tool for tensioning acircular band having a tangential [52] tail and a buckle connectinglapping portions of the 10 /3 0/ 0/ band, characterized by a portabletool having band [51] Int. B21f 9/0 tensioning means and a pivotedCrimping head adapted to form a specific type of crimp in the outer Q1 319 H 38 9.1 W 30 92 W 3 M2 .4 m2 M3 mu m 0 M3 e 9 f! W d0 l l F m 5band, the crimping head adapted to be moved away from an interferringposition at which the tool and [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS band may be relatively rotated in the plane of the band to breakoff the tail adjacent the buckle.

2,312,400 3 1943 81/93 2,536 536 1 1951 Childress et a1. 140/934 x 12Claims 6 Drawlng Flgllres 1 TOOL FOR TENSIONING A CIRCULAR BANDBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION US. Pat. No. 3,641,629 to Harold H. Beardslydiscloses a band buckle characterized by a sleeve having a rectangularchannel for receiving overlapping portions of a band, the buckle havingcut-outs at opposite edges into which the upper or outer band isdeformed to provide locking dimples or detents. Such patent alsodiscloses a tool having jaws which may be moved toward each other toform the detents. It further discloses a shear for severing the bandafter the detents have been formed and broadly discloses tensioning theband prior to forming the detents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a tool whichis provided with jaws which form detents on a band employed with abuckle of the type referred to and thus this feature is conventional. Itdiffers in certain respects, exemplary of which are: the shear isomitted and in lieu thereof the excess or tail portion of the band isbroken off adjacent one end of the buckle by relative rotationalmovement between the band and tool in the plane of the band. Since thedirection of movement of the tail, during the breaking operation, isfrom generally tangential to outwardly radial, the head which carriesthe jaws would prevent such relative rotation if it were fixed relativeto the band tail crimping means, as in the Beardsly patent. One featureof the invention is thus to move the crimping jaws to a non-interferringposition when the tail is to be broken off.

Another feature, resides in a jaw carrying head which, when moved in onedirection, latches in a position for forming the detents and uponmovement of a lever forms the detents, reverse movement of the levereffecting unlatching of the head and movement thereof to anon-interferring position wherein the band tail'may be broken off in amanner as disclosed by US. Pat. No. 2,312,400 to Govanus.

Another feature resides in the use of a clutching device for preventingretrograde movement of the band tail.

The features, above, exemplify the principal objects of th invention.Further objects, advantages, and salient features will become moreapparent from the detailed description to follow, the appended claimsand the accompanying drawing to now be briefly described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is an isometric view of the toolforming the subject of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of FIG. 1, portionsbeing shown in section as taken on line 2-2, FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3, FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4, FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a front elevation as viewed in the direction of arrow 5, FIG.4; and

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a bench mount for the tool.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing, thefixed portions of tool 10 comprise a body member 12 having alongitudinal channel 14 therein forming a floor 16 along which the tailT of a clamp C may slide during tensioning thereof. As will beunderstood, the clamp is conventional to the extent that the ends of theband are disposed in lapped relation within buckle B, the lower bandportion being provided with a hook H and the upper band portion beingprovidedwith the tangential tail T. The buckle, however, is of the typedisclosed in the Beardsly patent, previously referred to. A circularguide rod 18 is rigidly affixed at one end to body member 12, its otherend being provided with a transverse handle 20.

Rod 18 carries a slide member 22 through which tail T extends and isreciprocated by a lever 24 pivotally secured to body 12 by pin 26, thelever being connected to slide 22 by link 28 and pins 30,32. Pin 32pivotally carries a pulling dog or clutching member 34 having teeth 36which engage the tail during downward movement of lever 24 as indicatedby arrow 38, FIG. 2. As will be apparent, when lever 24 is moved in theopposite direction teeth 36 slide along the tail. A manually operatedlever 40 is pivotally carried by slide 22 having an end 42 which extendsinto an aperture in dog 34, a spring 44 surrounding such end for urgingdog 34 into clutching relation with the tail. As will be apparent, whenlever 40 is depressed, end 42 lifts the teeth out of engagement with thetail, permitting lever 24 to be moved downwardly without moving andtensioning the tail.

As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a buckle pusher or abutment 46 ispivotally connected to body 12 adjacent its left end by a pivot pin 48,pin 48 also carrying a holding dog 50 provided with teeth 52. A spring54, disposed between buckle abutment 46 and holding dog 50 urges bothtoward floor 16. Abutment 46 is provided with an end 56 which is engagedby end 58 of lever 24 when the lever is moved to its uppermost positionand lifts pusher 46 away from floor 16 to permit tail T to be insertedbeneath pusher 46.

Pin 26 pivotally supports a detent forming or crimping head 60 which maybe secured to body 12 in the position shown in FIG. 2 by a latchingmember 62 connected to head 60 by a pivot pin 64, the latching memberhaving a portion 66 adapted to be moved clockwise to release thelatching member against the urge of a spring 68. The latching member isU-shaped (not shown) having another latching leg, like that shown inFIG. 2 which latches to body 12 at the opposite side thereof, portion 66forming the bight between the legs of the U-shaped latching member.

Crimping head 60 pivotally carries a pair of levers 70 having crimpingor dimple forming ends 72 which are urged apart by spring 74 and adaptedto be moved toward each other by a cam 76 formed on the end of a lever78. This construction is similar to that disclosed in the Beardslypatent and operates in like manner to form the detents in the outerportion of the band.

FIG. 6 illustrates a bench mount 80 which may be optionally employed,comprising a pair of spaced bosses 82,84 having aligned aperturetherethrough for receiving handle 20. Boss 84 is provided with a slot 86of a width slightly in excess of the diameter of rod 18. By rotating rod18 to a vertical position it may be slid through slot 84 to a positionbetween the bosses, after which it may be rotated to a generallyhorizontal position, locking it to the bosses. While not essential, aplastic cap 88 may be slid over boss 84 to partially close part of slot86 and form a cover for that end of the bench mount.

ln the operation of the tool, clamp C is disposed around an article,such as a hose adapted to be squeezed onto a hose fitting and lever 24is moved to or near or toward its uppermost position (means not shownmay be provided to limit this uppermost position), raising buckle pusher46 and permitting tail T to be inserted beneath same and also beneathpulling dog 34. Lever 24 is then oscillated to tension tail T asdesired, contracting the band around the article. Lever 78 is thenrotated counterclockwise (FIG. 2) rotating cam 76 which moves lever ends72 toward each other and forming detents in the outer band engageablewithin the buckle apertures. Lever 78 is then rotated clockwise until itengages bight 66 of the latching member which disengages the latches andalso swings the crimping head to a non-interferring position at whichthe tool and band may be rotated relatively in the plane of the band tobreak off the tail adjacent the buckle. The tail may then be removedfrom the tool by oscillating lever 24 until it is advanced a sufficientdistance beyond slide 22 to permit it to be grasped and removed fromslide 22.

What is claimed is:

l. A tool for securing ends of a looped band to a buckle of the typehaving parallel spaced top and bottom walls and side walls joining same,providing a substantially rectangular opening between its ends throughwhich at least two thicknesses of the band are adapted to extend inlapped relationship, forming an outer slideable portion and an inneradjacent portion previously affixed to the buckle, the outer portionhaving a straight tail extending beyond the buckle adapted to betensioned to thereby contract the band around an article, said sidewallseach having a first aperture therein, each joined to a second aperturein the top wall disposed adjacent the side edges of same, the firstapertures providing access for wedgelike ends of a band crimping deviceto enter between said portions in lateral directions toward each other,the second apertures providing recesses into which only said outer bandportion may be crimped without shearing same, in directions away fromsaid adjacent portion, to form locking detents disposed therein, saidtool comprising:

a. a body member having a channel through which said tail may slide andan abutment at one end thereof engageable with one end of the buckle,

b. a rectilinearly slideable tensioning member carried by the bodymember through which the tail is adapted to extend,

c. a first lever carried by the body member and operatively connected tothe tensioning member for oscillating same,

d. means for clutching the tensioning member to the tail during movementof the first lever in one direction of its oscillation,

e. a crimping head pivotally connected to the body member having a pairof moveable members each having a wedge-like end adapted to enter a saidfirst aperture and between said outer and inner portions,

f. a second lever pivotally carried by the crimping head and meansoperated thereby for conjointly moving the wedgelike ends toward eachother, the construction being such that said wedgelike ends crimp onlysaid outer portion, without severing same, in a direction away from saidadjacent portion and form locking detents disposed within the secondapertures which are subjected to shear and without weakening the band intension at the locking detents,

g. means for latching the crimping head to the body member in a positionfor forming the locking detents, the crimping head, when unlatched,adapted to be swung to a non-interferring position with respect to thebuckle at which position the tool and tensioned band may be relativelyrotated in the plane of the band to break the tail from the bandadjacent one end of the buckle.

2. A tool in accordance with claim 1 including second clutching meansfor preventing retrograde movement of the tail during movement of thefirst lever in its other direction of oscillation.

3. A tool in accordance with claim 1 including second clutching meansfor preventing retrograde movement of the tail during movement of thefirst lever in its other direction of oscillation, said abutment andsecond clutching means being pivotally mounted on the same axis andresiliently urged against a face of the channel.

4. A tool in accordance with claim 1 wherein the means for latching thecrimping head to the body member is adapted to be moved to unlatchedposition by movement of said second lever in a direction opposite tothat in which it is moved during formation of the detents.

5. A tool in accordance with claim 4 wherein the crimping head latchingmeans is pivotally carried by the crimping head and resiliently urgedtoward latching position.

6. A tool in accordance with claim 1 in combination with said buckle.

7. A tool in accordance with claim 6 including second clutching meansfor preventing retrograde movement of the tail during movement of thefirst lever in its other direction of oscillation.

8. A tool in accordance with claim 6 including second clutching meansfor preventing retrograde movement of the tail during movement of thefirst lever in its other direction of oscillation, said abutment andsecond clutching means being pivotally mounted on the same axis andresiliently urged against a face of the channel.

9. A tool in accordance with claim 6 wherein the means for latching thecrimping head to the body member is adapted to be moved to unlatchedposition by movement of said second lever in a direction opposite tothat in which it is moved during formation of the detents.

10. A tool in accordance with claim 9 wherein the crimping head latchingmeans is pivotally carried by the crimping head and resiliently urgedtoward latching position.

11. A tool for securing ends of a looped band to a buckle of the typehaving parallel spaced top and bottom walls and side walls joining same,providing a substantially rectangular opening between its ends throughwhich at least two thicknesses of the band are adapted to extend inlapped relationship, forming an outer slideable portion and an inneradjacent portion previously affixed to the buckle, the outer portionhaving a straight tail extending beyond the buckle adapted to betensioned to thereby contract the band around an article, comprising:

a. a body member having a channel through which said tail may slide andan abutment at one end thereof engageable with one end of the buckle,

b, a rectilinearly slideable tensioning member carried by the bodymember through which the tail is adapted to extend,

c. a first lever carried by the body member and operatively connected tothe tensioning member for oscillating same,

(1. means for clutching the tensioning member to the tail duringmovement of the first lever in one direction of its oscillation,

e. a crimping head pivotally connected to the body member havingmoveable means for forming locking detents between the band and buckle,

f. a second lever pivotally carried by the crimping head and meansoperated thereby for moving said moveable means,

g. means for latching the crimping head to the body member in a positionfor forming the locking detents, the crimping head, when unlatched,adapted to be swung to a noninterferring position with respect to thebuckle at which position the tool and tensioned band may be relativelyrotated in the plane of the band to break the tail from the bandadjacent one end of the buckle.

12. A tool in accordance with claim 11 including second clutching meansfor preventing retrograde movement of the tail during movement of thefirst lever in its other direction of oscillation, said abutment andsecond clutching means being pivotally mounted on the same'axis andresiliently urged against a face of the channel, the means for latchingthe crimping head to the body member adapted to be moved to unlatchedposition by movement of said second lever in a direction opposite tothat in which it is moved during formation of the detents, the crimpinghead latching means being pivotally carried by the crimping head andresiliently urged toward latching position.

1. A tool for securing ends of a looped band to a buckle of the typehaving parallel spaced top and bottom walls and side walls joining same,providing a substantially rectangular opening between its ends throughwhich at least two thicknesses of the band are adapted to extend inlapped relationship, forming an outer slideable portion and an inneradjacent portion previously affixed to the buckle, the outer portionhaving a straight tail extending beyond the buckle adapted to betensioned to thereby contract the band around an article, said sidewallseach having a first aperture therein, each joined to a second aperturein the top wall disposed adjacent the side edges of same, the firstapertures providing access for wedgelike ends of a band crimping deviceto enter between said portions in lateral directions toward each other,the second apertures providing recesses into which only said outer bandportion may be crimped without shearing same, in directions away fromsaid adjacent portion, to form locking detents disposed therein, saidtool comprising: a. a body member having a channel through which saidtail may slide and an abutment at one end thereof engageable with oneend of the buckle, b. a rectilinearly slideable tensioning membercarried by the body member through which the tail is adapted to extend,c. a first lever carried by the body member and operatively connected tothe tensioning member for oscillating same, d. means for clutching thetensioning member to the tail during movement of the first lever in onedirection of its oscillation, e. a crimping head pivotally connected tothe body member having a pair of moveable members each having awedge-like end adapted to enter a said first aperture and between saidouter and inner portions, f. a second lever pivotally carried by thecrimping head and means operated thereby for conjointly moving thewedgelike ends toward each other, the construction being such that saidwedgelike ends crimp only said outer portion, without severing same, ina direction away from said adjacent portion and form locking detentsdisposed within the second apertures which are subjected to shear andwithout weakening the band in tension at the locking detents, g. meansfor latching the crimping head to the body member in a position forforming the locking detents, the crimping head, when unlatched, adaptedto be swung to a non-interferring position with respect to the buckle atwhich position the tool and tensioned band may be relatively rotated inthe plane of the band to break the tail from the band adjacent one endof the buckle.
 2. A tool in accordance with claim 1 including secondclutching means for preventing retrograde movement of the tail duringmovement of the first lever in its other direction of oscillation.
 3. Atool in accordance with claim 1 including second clutching means forpreventing retrograde movement of the tail during movement of the firstlever in its other direction of oscillation, said abutment and secondclutching means being pivotally mounted on the same axis and resilientlyurged against a face of the channel.
 4. A tool in accordance with claim1 wherein the means for latching the crimping head to the body member isadapted to be moVed to unlatched position by movement of said secondlever in a direction opposite to that in which it is moved duringformation of the detents.
 5. A tool in accordance with claim 4 whereinthe crimping head latching means is pivotally carried by the crimpinghead and resiliently urged toward latching position.
 6. A tool inaccordance with claim 1 in combination with said buckle.
 7. A tool inaccordance with claim 6 including second clutching means for preventingretrograde movement of the tail during movement of the first lever inits other direction of oscillation.
 8. A tool in accordance with claim 6including second clutching means for preventing retrograde movement ofthe tail during movement of the first lever in its other direction ofoscillation, said abutment and second clutching means being pivotallymounted on the same axis and resiliently urged against a face of thechannel.
 9. A tool in accordance with claim 6 wherein the means forlatching the crimping head to the body member is adapted to be moved tounlatched position by movement of said second lever in a directionopposite to that in which it is moved during formation of the detents.10. A tool in accordance with claim 9 wherein the crimping head latchingmeans is pivotally carried by the crimping head and resiliently urgedtoward latching position.
 11. A tool for securing ends of a looped bandto a buckle of the type having parallel spaced top and bottom walls andside walls joining same, providing a substantially rectangular openingbetween its ends through which at least two thicknesses of the band areadapted to extend in lapped relationship, forming an outer slideableportion and an inner adjacent portion previously affixed to the buckle,the outer portion having a straight tail extending beyond the buckleadapted to be tensioned to thereby contract the band around an article,comprising: a. a body member having a channel through which said tailmay slide and an abutment at one end thereof engageable with one end ofthe buckle, b. a rectilinearly slideable tensioning member carried bythe body member through which the tail is adapted to extend, c. a firstlever carried by the body member and operatively connected to thetensioning member for oscillating same, d. means for clutching thetensioning member to the tail during movement of the first lever in onedirection of its oscillation, e. a crimping head pivotally connected tothe body member having moveable means for forming locking detentsbetween the band and buckle, f. a second lever pivotally carried by thecrimping head and means operated thereby for moving said moveable means,g. means for latching the crimping head to the body member in a positionfor forming the locking detents, the crimping head, when unlatched,adapted to be swung to a noninterferring position with respect to thebuckle at which position the tool and tensioned band may be relativelyrotated in the plane of the band to break the tail from the bandadjacent one end of the buckle.
 12. A tool in accordance with claim 11including second clutching means for preventing retrograde movement ofthe tail during movement of the first lever in its other direction ofoscillation, said abutment and second clutching means being pivotallymounted on the same axis and resiliently urged against a face of thechannel, the means for latching the crimping head to the body memberadapted to be moved to unlatched position by movement of said secondlever in a direction opposite to that in which it is moved duringformation of the detents, the crimping head latching means beingpivotally carried by the crimping head and resiliently urged towardlatching position.